Red Cross steps up efforts to save 65,000 starving Pokot residents

The Kenya Red Cross Society has embarked on a massive supply of relief food in the greater Pokot district as thousands of families in parts of the North Rift region face starvation.

More than 65,000 people from Pokot West, Pokot North and Pokot Central are to benefit from more than 2,700 tonnes of cereals and cooking fat.

“Logistics has been put in place for the distribution of the relief food and save the starving families,” said Mr Patrick Nyongesa, KRCS manager in charge of North Rift.

The Meteorological Department has predicted depressed rainfall in the next two months, dashing hopes of a bumper harvest this season.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has resumed distribution of relief supplies to thousands of families in the larger Turkana district.

Disagreement between leaders from areas hit by famine and WFP had resulted in delays in distribution of the food. The leaders wanted the KRCS to distribute the relief supplies, arguing that it had a wider network.

Leaders and farmers in North Rift want the government to revive stalled irrigation schemes to improve crop production and boost the country’s food security.

They also want the government, through the Agricultural Finance Corporation, to increase seasonal credit facilities and introduce insurance cover for crops to cushion them in case of drought and floods.

“The persistent food shortages in the country will be a thing of the past if farmers are assisted to adapt new crop production like irrigation and provided with grants in the form of farm inputs,” said Mr James Kosgei from Tot, Marakwet District.

Some of the irrigation schemes that have stalled in the region include Katilu, Lokori, Tot and Turkwel.

However, the Wei Wei Irrigation scheme in West Pokot, funded by Italians and Kerio Valley Development Authority, is operational, with more than 275 hectares under irrigation.

“Apart from boosting food production, the scheme has helped contain cattle rustling and banditry activities,” said Mr Domoo Demangole, a member of the Wei Wei farmers irrigation scheme.

Other irrigation schemes that are still operational in the region include Arror and Embobut in Marakwet District and Parkerra in Baringo.

The leaders challenged the government to implement the Turkwel irrigation scheme on the West Pokot and Turkana South districts’ border.

An estimated 1,200 acres were to be put under irrigation, with the French Government providing a Sh500 million grant.

Leaders from both communities said the scheme would help contain cattle rustling and banditry, besides boosting food security.

At the same time, distribution of relief supplies was yesterday disrupted in some parts of Turkana District after armed carjackers waylaid a lorry transporting the food at Katilu area.

Hijacked by criminals

“The lorry was transporting relief supplies to areas hit by food shortages when it was hijacked by the criminals,” said Turkana South district commissioner Joseph Kanyiri.

In Nandi District, armed criminals carjacked a vehicle transporting goods before robbing the driver and his conductor of the supplies, money and mobile phones.